News Release

Monday, January 3, 2000

Suspect Booked for Attempted Murder of a Police Officer and Sexual

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, January 3, 2000
On Saturday, January 1, 2000, at 1:40 A.M., West Los Angeles Area uniformed Officers Larry Glorioso, Serial No. 27775, 36 years of age and nine years and seven months with the Department and Antonio Delatorre, Serial No. 35299, 26 years of age and eleven months with the Department, responded to a radio call of a silent panic alarm at a private residence in the vicinity of Beverly Glen Boulevard and Beverly Glen Place. Upon their arrival the officers observed the garage door to be open and other suspicious circumstances. A short time later they heard footsteps running and observed a female exit from the house into the garage while screaming that a man was going to kill her. The officers then observed a suspect wearing a mask and holding a handgun exit behind the female. Officer Glorioso ordered the suspect to drop his weapon but the suspect raised his weapon and fired at Officer Glorioso. Officer Glorioso returned fire and the suspect fell to the pavement. The suspect continued to point his weapon at Officer Glorioso. Officer Delatorre in fear for Officer Glorioso's life, fired at the suspect. The suspect then fired rounds at Officer Delatorre and ran back into the house.

The suspect, who had received a gunshot wound to his upper torso, was found approximately ½ mile away hiding in bushes. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was hospitalized for his injury. The suspect's injury does not appear to be life threatening and the officers were not injured during this incident.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect made entry into the female victim's residence and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint. The suspect's mask and several expended shell casings were found inside the residence, but the search is ongoing for the suspect's weapon.

The suspect has been identified as Mercedes Porfidio Lopez, a male Hispanic, 26 years of age, and a resident of Reseda. Upon his recovery he will be booked for Attempted Murder of a Police Officer and Sexual Assault.

Robbery Homicide Detectives are conducting the investigation.

All inquiries should be directed to the Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.